Transformer box for universal application as replacement equipment



Sept. 8, 1959 HARVEY TRANSFORMER BOX FOR UNIVERSAL APPLICATION AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT Filed June 7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. S/DNEY 14 /7AEVY Sept. 8, 1959 s. w. HARVEY 2,903,662

TRANSFORMER BOX FOR UNIVERSAL APPLICATION AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT Filed June '7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I21 I T-MTZ.

INVEN TOR. S/DA/[y 14 HAM 5 Jim/(1 ATTO/QA/EV Sept. 8, .1959 s. w. HARVEY TRANSFORMER BOX FOR UNIVERSAL APPLICATION AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 7, 1957 IN VEN TOR. 5/0/v 14 HARVEV ATTOK/Vfy Sept. 8, 1959 s. w. HARVEY TRANSFORMER BOX FOR UNIVERSAL APPLICATION 7 AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT 7 Filed June 7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Sum/5y h/ hflm/a BY 7 7:4 AT/UEA/f/ P 1959 s. w. HARVEY 2,903,662

TRANSFORMER BOX FOR UNIVERSAL APPLICATION AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT Filed June 7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 p ls. Fiq. 1 7.

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INVENTOR. 5/DNEV W fi/z/e var United States Patent TRANSFORMER BOX FOR UNIVERSAL APPLI- CATION AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT Sidney W. Harvey, Smithtown, N.Y., assignor to Sid Harvey, Inc., Valley Stream, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 7, 1957, Serial No. 664,210

1 Claim. (Cl. 336-96) The present. invention relates to a transformer box adapted for substantially universal application as replacement equipment in conjunction with electrical apparatus, and (more particularly to a transformer box, which in practice will be complete with a transformer and which may be used, particularly with oil burners of a type requiring ignition, as replacement equipment for use in the repairing and maintenance of suchoil burner equipment.

As such, the'present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of my prior and copending application Serial No. 570,138, filed March 7 1956 and entitled, Adaptable Transformer Box and nowaband'oned.

Many oil burners now in use in household heating equipment and elsewhere require the use of igniting means such as a spark plug for assuring that the fuel supplied thereby is ignited as it is introduced into the combustion chamber with which such burners are associated. This is particularly true of the conventional gun-type burners used in household heating furnaces, either as original or as replacement equipment therefor. The ignition means of such an oil burner requires a transformer for stepping up the conventional house current of 110 volts to a point requiredto activate the ignition means. I

In view of the fact that these transformers sometimes fail and require replacement, ,a problem is presented to the individual or organization carrying on the maintenance and repair of equipment of this type, in that there are a large number of different types of oil burners on the market and'in actual use; and even burners made by the same manufacturer may besupplied from time to time in a considerable number of sizes, designs or models; As apractical'matter, each manufacturer of such equipmentusually designs the type transformer and transformer box surrounding such" transformer which isto be used with each particular make, size and model of oil burner respectively. If a person or organization engaged'in the repair and maintenance of such equipment were'required to keep in stock and on hand for use on each job allthe makes and models, sizes and types of transformers and transformer box equipment requiredto fit every different'type, size and model oil burner which he may be called upon to service from time to time, the task would be practically impossible. At the same time, eventhough the necessary number of different types of transformer equipment maybe stocked in a town or city' by one organization or another and thereby be available to the repair personnel, the inevitable delay in obtaining thenecessary type, size and model is highly objectionable from the point of view of the average householder, who may be in great need of heat from his oil burner, particularly if it fails during a cold period in'winter.

The present invention provides an arrangement by which a single type of transformer box, complete with a transformer, may be. utilized-on a very large number, if not all, of differenttypes and models and sizes of oil burners which the average service man is called upon to attend. This is accomplished by the means embodied in the present invention by which facilities are made available in a single novel type of transformer box for at taching the power supply wires thereto from any one of a considerable number of different sides and further, for holding the transformer box ontothe electrical equipment, such as an oil burner, with which the transformer box is to be used, by at least two different sides, through one of which the secondary terminals for the transformerbox extend. Suitable intermediate mechanical attachment means are provided in accordance with the present invention to enable this single type transformer box to be mounted on almost any existing type and model ofoil burner, for example, without requiring the service man to carry an excessively large number of parts; and, for example, in accordance with the present invention, by carrying a single type of transformer box and a relatively small number of selectively usable intermediate attachment means as hereinafter more out.

While the present invention is particularly described with respect to the attachment of a transformer box onto diiferent types of oil burners, it will be understood that a single such box usable for containing a transformer or other more or less equivalent electrical equipment could be used with a large variety of different types of electrical equipment with which such box and its contents may be desired to be used.

Summarizing the present invention, the transformer box in accordance therewith is provided with means arranged internally thereof at diagonally opposite corners for segregating these corners from the interior thereof as recesses and for providing electrical connection selectively to either of said recesses and from selectively usable entrance points thereinto, so as to introduce electrical energy into the interior of the transformer box from any desired side which is accessible and convenient in use. This is facilitated by providing a pair of conductors extending between the recesses and connected intermediate their ends to the primary leads of a transformer which is normally contained within the transformer box. The combination of this type of transformer box, in conjunc tion with selectively usable intermediate attachment means, by which this box may be attached to a piece of electrical equipment in a considerable number of different ways in accordance with the requirements thereof comprise a novel combination of features enabling a minimum number of spare parts to be carried by a service man so as to fulfill the needs of a very large number of different makes, models and sizes of oil burners which might need such a transformer box as replacement equipment.

Other and more detailed objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description of certain presently preferred embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a transformer box in accordance with the present invention arranged with one form of intermediate attachment means, the secondary terminals protruding from an end wall of the box adjacent to that wall which is secured to the intermediate attachment means;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the transformer box of Fig. 1, arranged in this instance with the same wall downwardly as in Fig. 1, but otherwise reversed end-for-end;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional gun-type oil burner showing a transformer box in accordance with the present invention attached thereto;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the transformer box of Fig. 1, showing the intermediate attachment means loparticularly set cated selectively in two positions, in one of which this means is shown in broken lines;

Fig. 5 is a view substantially in vertical section of the transformer box of Fig. 1, showing another form of intermediate attachment means, this time arranged for attachment of the wall through which the secondary terminals extend in abutting relation with the electrical equipment with which the device is to be used;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one intermediate attachment means similar to, but slightly different from the means shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

' Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation, showing a still further form of intermediate attachment means and further showing in dotted lines such means in different, selectively usable positions;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of still another form of intermediate attachment means which may be used in lieu of the means shown in Fig. 6, for example;

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of another type of intermediate attachment means, this type being formed as an angle bracket;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of still another form of intermediate attachment means, this type comprising a hinged bracket;

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of still another type of intermediate attachment means, this type being an ofiset bracket;

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective with bracket parts separated, showing the manner of attachment of a transformer box to the intermediate attachment means of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a view in perspective with bracket parts separated, showing the manner of attachment of a transformer box to the intermediate attachment means of Fig. 10;

- Fig. 14 is a view in perspective with bracket parts separated, showing the manner of attachment of a transformer box to the intermediate attachment means of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a view in perspective with bracket parts separated, showing the manner of attachment of a transformer box to the intermediate attachment means of Fig. 10, the hinged attachment means in this instance being arranged for attachment to a different wall of the transformer box than in the case of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a View in perspective of a transformer box as aforesaid, using angle brackets similar to that shown in Fig. 9, but in this instance of somewhat different dimensions, the purpose being to show that different size brackets can be used alternatively in the same general manner; and

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16, showing a type of brackets being used which are substantially the same in each instance as shown in Fig. 9 the figure dififering from Fig. 12 in that the brackets are attached to different walls of the transformer box than in Fig. 12.

The transformer box is indicated generally in the several views at 10 and may be considered the same in every view in which it is shown. This box comprises a body 11 of sheet metal having lateral walls 12, a top wall 13 (in the position of the box shown in Figs. 1 and 2) and a bottom wall 14. The body 11 is closed at its ends by a removable end wall 115 (seen at the right, Fig. 1) and a removable end wall 16 (seen at the left, Fig. 1). The position of these walls of necessity must be described with respect to one position of the box as a whole, as the box is intended, in its normal use, to be positioned selectively in a number of different positions.

The box 10 is arranged to contain a transformer shown in dotted outline only in Fig. 5, at 28. The showing is made in this way as the transformer per se forms no part of the present invention, which is directed to the transformer box as such in which a suitable transformer is located, for example, as shown in dotted lines in Fig, 5. The transformer 28 has a pair of primary leads 29 and a pair of secondary leads 311 in a conventional manner. The secondary leads are connected to a pair of suitably insulated secondary or high tension terminals 17, which extend through one of the six walls of the box 10, in this case through the end wall 16, as shown. Each of the secondary terminals 17 is provided with a suitable insulator 18, both of which extend as shown through a suitable aperture 19 in the end Wall 16 (Fig. 1).

In the usual construction, the end walls 15 and 16 of the box are made removable for purposes later to be described and are removably secured to the top, bottom and side walls by suitable means, for example, screws 20.

In Fig. 3 is shown a conventional gun-type oil burner generally indicated at 21, which may have a transformer box 16 aflixed thereto by the use of an intermediate mechanical attachment means here shown generally as a mounting plate 23, the plate being mounted upon a part of the furnace structure as shown, for example, at 22, Fig. 3.

Means must be provided for the connection of electrical leads carrying a power supply for the transformer to the primary leads 29 thereof. In view of the fact that the transformer box 10 of the present invention may be associated with the electrical apparatus with which it is to be used in a number of different relations or attitudes; and as some of the places in which it may be used would make some parts accessible and other parts inaccessible, provision is made in accordance with the present invention so that there will always be some accessible portion of the transformer box to which connection may be made for power supply to the primary leads to the transformer.

For this purpose, there is provided at each of the two diagonally opposite corners of the box 10 suitable recesses 26, each formed by an arcuate interior wall 25 formed as a portion of a cylinder or the like and extending on the one hand between two walls as 11 and 16 at the upper left hand corner (Fig. 5) and between the side wall 15 and the bottom wall 14 at the lower right hand corner (Fig. 5). It will be understood that the arcuate interior walls 25 also extend completely between the lateral walls 12, so as to separate the recesses 26 substantially completely from the remainder of the interior of the box 10.

A pair of branch leads 31 are provided extending between the two recesses 26 as shown, these leads being constituted by suitably insulated wires, the insulation extending completely from end to end of the wires as the boxes 10 are made up, and even covering those portions of the wires or leads 31 which extend into the respective recesses 26. The branch leads 31 are suitably connected intermediate their ends to the primary leads 29 respectively. Thus, when it is decided which recess 26 into which the external power supply leads are to be conducted, such external leads may be brought into the appropriate one of the recesses 26 which is accessible in the position in which the box 10 is disposed, for example, by removing an appropriate one of the knockouts 33 which are provided in at least three of the walls bounding each of the recesses 26 and usually all in four such walls. Following this, suitable connection may be made between the external power supply leads and the branch leads 31 by stripping back the insulation from the ends of the branch leads to be used as indicated at 32 in Fig. 5 in the lower right hand corner thereof and making appropriate connection between the bared wire ends and the external wires or leads. Access may be had to the interior of each of the recesses 26 due to the provision of removable covers 27 for each such recess respectively, the removable covers being suitably held in closed position during normal operation by one or more screws as indicated at 20, Fig. l, or by other equivalent fastening means.

The interior of the box 10, other than the recess portions 26 divided off by the interior walls 25, and includlng that portion of; the central part of the box in which the transformer 28 is located, is normally filled up with a suitable settable material known. as potting Compound- The use of such potting compound is well known in the art, so that it hasnot been thought necessary to show it in the drawings.

The transformer boxes may be made up in this manner and it is in the manner thus far described in which these boxes may be taken around from place to place by an oil burner service man, for example, and used as necessary as replacement equipment by attaching such boxes onto a suitable part of the oil burner in a manner hereinafter described and by making suitable electrical connections to and from the transformer box.

The outer end portions 34 of the secondary terminals 17 are preferably formed as threaded posts for accommodating certain conventional connection means used in this type of device. Again, as the details of this connection means form per so no part of the present invention, they have not been illustrated, except to show the ends of the terminals 17 as threaded posts at 34 in Fig. 5. If'desired, a suitable nut as shown at 35, Fig. 5, may be threaded onto each post 34 for assisting in connecting these posts to other conventional connection means.

Because of the manner in which devices of this kind are to be used in accordance with a principal purpose of the present invention, i.e. as replacement equipment for use in connection with a large number of different types, models, and sizes of electrical equipment as oil burners, it is necessary that means be provided for mounting the transformer box of the present invention in a number of different ways and to a very considerable number of different type and size supports, some of which require one type of mounting and others requiring other types respectively. The present invention provides a plurality of selectively usable intermediate mechanical attachment means, which may be used to affix the transformer box in a number of different positions to a very large number of different type supporting means as oil burners. The several different means provided in accordance with the present invention will now be described and their applicability to a plurality of different situations shown.

Considering first the mounting plate 23 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and hereinabove referred to, this plate may be formed of sheet metal in a manner very similar to the showing of the plate 24 in Fig. 6, there being a large central aperture corresponding generally to the aperture 50 for the plate 24 in Fig. 6 and of a size to surround the secondary terminals 17 and their insulators 18 as shown in Fig. 1., if the plate 23 is applied onto the end through which these terminals extend as can be done, for example as illustrated in dotted lines at the left in Fig. 4. The plate 23 is provided with a series of screw holes 53, Fig. 4, corresponding generally to the screw holes 54 shown for the plates 24 in Fig. 6, but spaced differently so as, for example, to cooperate with the uppermost and lowermost holes 51 shown in Fig. 1. Suitable metal screws 52 may, for example, be used for affixing the plate 23 selectively onto the end piece 16 through which the secondary terminals extend as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4, or onto the bottom wall 14- of the box 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and in full lines in Fig. 4.

The end portions of each of the plates 23 (Fig. l) and 24 (Fig. 6) are provided with a plurality of slotted portions 49, for facilitating the attachment of these plates onto a suitable support forming a part of or suitably adjacent to an electrical apparatus as generally shown at 22 in Fig. 3.

The plate 24 shown in Fig. 6 may be substantially the same as the plate 23, except as to the positions of the holes 54, which are arranged in this instance to cooperate with the innermost sets of holes 51 shown in Fig. 1 and with a corresponding set of holes formed in the bottom wall 14. For that matter, such a set of holes could be formed in any or all the walls of the transformerbox 10 as found convenient. It is usually sufiicient, however, to provide for the attachment of the transformer box 10 either with the end portion (wall 16) through which the secondary leads extend directed or positioned toward the support or one other wall of the transformer box so directed, such as a wall contiguous with that through which the secondary leads extend (as bottom wall 14).

In Fig. 8 there is shown another optionally usable form of mounting plate, this plate being indicated generally at 36 and differing from the plates 23 and 24 principally in that there are flange portions at the periphery of the plate which are arranged for optional use and may be wholly or partly removed from the plate if not needed, for example, by providing score lines as shown at 38, 39, 40 and 42, along which portions of the plate or body 37 may have broken away therefrom portions as 41 at the sides and inclined or rectangular portions at the top or bottom, so as to leave only those portions which are to be used in aflixing the intermediate plate 36 onto an available support. The provision of a plate with suitable, selectively usable portions which are made separable by providing score lines as shown in Fig. 8 is to be considered within the purview of the present invention. As shown, some of these score lines are arranged in amanner parallel to the sides of a box 10 with which the mounting plate-may be used (score lines 39 and 42); while. others (score lines 38 and 40) are arranged on a slant, so. that corner portions may be broken off and discarded. Inthis Way a mounting plate is provided which may be in effect tailored on the job to a number of particular situations, the same plate at the start being adapted, by suitable removal of unnecessary portions, to a large number of different installations.

Another and very useful typeof intermediate mounting means comprises a plurality of conventional bolts, such as carriage bolts shownat in Fig. 5, which may be extended-through from the inside of one wall of the box 10 and be suitably secured in a conventional manner to any available support One arrangement for the reception of the head portions of these bolts 70 is indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, wherein there are illustrated T-shaped slots 71 (Fig. 1) through any portion of which a bolt 70 may extend. It is sometimes convenient in connection with a T-slot of this kind, to introduce the head of the bolt through the box wall at the intersection of the two-arms of the T, the sheet metal of the wall being sufliciently flexible to permit this action. Once the bolt has had its head projected therethrough, it may be moved anywhere along the cross slot or stem portion of the slot of the T to a desired position in accordance with the facilities available for attachment of the stem portions of the bolts 70 to the supporting means for the transformer box.

Another arrangement which is often desired and which is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 5, is that of a shield 72, comprising a piece of relatively thin sheet metal attached to the inside of the box wall at one or more spots, or along one edge, as the upper edge shown in Fig. 5, and otherwise unattached to the walls of the box 10. This shield serves to prevent the potting compound from flowing into and sealing the T-slots 71, Fig. 1, while at the same time being sufficiently resilient to permit the introduction of the bolt heads at the intersection of the T to the position shown in Fig. 5, and further assisting in preventing the inadvertent rotation of the bolts 70 during installation of the apparatus of this invention and when a suitable nut is being tightened onto such bolt to hold the transformer box in position. Primarily, however, this rotation is prevented by making the hole through which the bolt extends with flat sides to cooperate with the square section portion of the carriage bolts immediately beneath the head portion thereof.

There are also shown in Figs. 12-17 inclusive, not only T-slots 71, but also rectangular knock-out portions 74,- 75, 76 and 77. It will be understood that suitable knock-out portions as illustrated, for example, at 7477, may be provided at any suitable points and in any of the six walls of the box 10. In using holes made by knocking out any of the portions 7477, it is usually necessary to remove the end wall 16 in which these knock-outs are provided so as to insert the bolts 70 from the inside thereof, which may be done by removing the associated screws 20. The bolts to be used are then inserted through the holes formed at the knock-out portions to be used from the inside and with the stem of the bolts facing out in a manner similar to that illustrated for the bolt 70 in Fig. following which the end wall is suitably reassembled with the remainder of the transformer box 10.

A situation is often encountered in practice, in which a support forming, for example, a part of an oil burner, may have a hole therein over which the transformer box may be mounted in accordance with the design for the oil burner apparatus, the hole being arranged so that the transformer box serves to close the hole in question and to prevent undesired leakage of air into or out of the oil burner casing. The transformer box of the present invention and/or its mounting means, including for example, plates 23, 24 or 36, are so arranged as to coordinate with this purpose or use of the transformer box and form what is, in effect, an air-tight seal over this opening as has just been described. The arrangement of the transformer box and its mounting, so as to close an opening for the efficient ope-ration of the associated oil burner is, therefore, to be considered within the purview of the present invention.

In Fig. 7, another form of intermediate mechanical attachment means for attaching a transformer box 19 onto a suitable support is illustrated. As shown in this figure, a plate 78 may be suitably attached to the transformer box in the manner heretofore described for the plates 23 or 24, or for that matter, in any other suitable desired manner. This plate 78 may have suitably secured thereto or formed thereon, spacing portions or shims 43 to serve as bearing supports for abutment against a supporting portion of the electrical apparatus with which the transformer box is to be used. There is further provided, in a manner to be securable to the plate 78, one or more slotted members 45 which may be disposed at different selected angles and may be selectively mounted as shown both in full and dotted lines in Fig. 7. In each instance, a slotted member 45 is secured to the plate 78 by a screw 44 with or without one or more shims as shown at 73, being provided on or about the screw to hold the slotted member at a desired level with respect to the level of the face of the plate 78 and that of the shims 43. It will be understood that one, two or more of the slotted members 45 may be used, these members being selectively disposed inwardly of or outwardly from the plate 78, as shown, for example, by the full line showing of one of the members 45 disposed inwardly of this plate, while at the lower left hand portion of the Fig. 7, one of these members is shown extending outwardly from the plate. As shown, there may be one of the screws 44 at each of the four corners of the plate 73 to any or all of which a slotted member 45 may be secured. Each of the slotted members 45 is preferably provided with a laterally offset or crank-end portion 47 as shown in full lines in Fig. 7, enabling these members to be used in either the full line position or one of the dotted line position shown in that figure, for example.

The slotted member or members 45 which are used in a particular installation may in turn be secured to the supporting means onto which the transformer box it is to be mounted, for example, by bolts as shown at 48, extending through slots 46 formed in each of the slotted members which are used and suitably secured to the supporting means as hereinabove described for the bolts 7%. The bolts 48 are also preferably of the carriage bolt type and thus are provided with square portions located in the slot 46 to prevent rotation of the bolts respectively while a nut or equivalent means is being tightened thereon.

In Figs. 9 and 12 is shown another embodiment of the intermediate mechanical attachment means which may be used to secure a transformer box as shown at 10, to a suitable support. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, preferably two and possibly more angle brackets indicated generally at 57 may be employed, these brackets having laterally or longitudinally slotted portions as shown, the bracket particularly illustrated in Fig. 9 including, for example, one leaf portion 57a provided with inwardly extending slots 62 similar to slots 49 above described, and also including relatively large holes 65 for optional use with bolts. The other leaf of the angle bracket 57 is indicated at 57b and includes longitudinal slots 61, which may be employed for attaching the angle bracket 57 to the box It), suitable metal screws 55 extending through the slots 61 and into holes 56 in the box is for this purpose.

As shown in Fig. 17, the brackets 57 are arranged so that they may be secured to the sides of the transformer box, so as to position the secondary terminals 17 toward the support to which the transformer box is to be secured; while in Fig. 12, an end portion of the transformer box is arranged to be secured in abutting relation to the support with the secondary terminals 17 extending laterally therefrom. The holes 56 may be suitably provided in the box it) in several relations, so that the transformer box 16D may be mounted in any desired attitude with respect to the support. As a further modification, as illustrated at the left in Fig. 16, one bracket 570 may be formed with one leaf elongated to a greater extent than in the case of the bracket 57 shown in Fig. 9, for example, as shown for the leaf 57d. This will enable the transformer box to be secured in places where the bolts used for securing the brackets to the support must be spaced further apart than could otherwise be accommodated.

In Figs. 10 and 13, a further form of intermediate mechanical attachment means and its use is illustrated, this means comprising a hinge member 58 having leaves 53a and 531), which are hinged together in a conventional manner at their intersections. The leaf 58a may be provided with suitable open or closed slots, the latter being illustrated in this instance at 580. It will be understood that the purpose is the same as the open slots 62 in the leaf portion 5% in Fig. 9 or the slots 49 shown in Fig. 6, for example. The other leaf 58b is shown provided with slots 63 corresponding functionally to the slots 61 shown in Fig. 9. Either leaf 58a or 58b may be attached to the transformer box and the other one attached to the support with which the transformer box is associated in use, such for example, the structure of an oil burner 2 (Fig. 3). This arrangement further provides for the hinging of a transformer box for inspection or servicing when only one of two of the hinge-type brackets is unfastened from a member to which it is secured. It is considered that this form of attachment means may be desired for a number of particular installations. As a further use of this type of mounting means, it is contemplated that it may be used where the surface of the supporting means to which it is to be secured (other than the transformer box) is at some angle other than parallel or at right angles to the faces of the transformer box. The hinge arrangement will, of course, adapt itself to a large number of different situations of this kind.

In Fig. 15, a hinge bracket 58 is shown in position to be secured to a transformer box in a different relation from that in which the hinge brackets 58 are adapted to be secured in accordance with the showing of Fig. 13. In this view, Fig. 15, only one hinge bracket is shown, which is intended to illustrate the principle that one, two or more brackets of this or other types herein disclosed, may be used as desired in any given installation.

In Figs. 11 and 14 is shown a still further form of intermediate mechanical attachment means. In these figures, an offset bracket 59 is shown, comprising a pair of substantially parallel portions 59a and 59b connected by an integral intermediate portion 60. The portion is suitably provided with open or closed slots, the latter being shown at 67 corresponding to the slots 58c of the bracket 58 (Fig. Alternatively, it is contemplated that open slots similar to the slots 62 or 49 could be used if desired. The portion 59b is provided with elongate slots 64 and also with a central opening 68, any one of which could be used for attaching screws or bolts as indicated, for example, by the screws 55, Fig. 14. Brackets of this kind may be used wherever the configuration of the supporting means is such as to require or permit such use. Again, it will be understood that these brackets may be secured to any of the walls of the transformer box 10, so as to present the secondary terminals 17 in a desired relation to the equipment with which it is to be used and connected.

While there is herein illustrated and described a number of possible alternative constructions, particularly as to the intermediate attachment means, other means equivalent to those particularly described will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. It is intended, therefore, that the scope of the present invention shall be defined by the appended claim, which are to be construed validly as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

What is claimed is:

A transformer box adapted for substantially universal application as replacement equipment in conjunction with electrical apparatus, comprising a sheet metal casing made up of six substantially rectangular outside walls, said casing enclosing an electrical transformer having primary and secondary leads; a pair of interior walls secured in said casing, each extending between a pair of opposite side walls and also between another pair of side Walls which join at a corner, and each interior wall serving to segregate a corner portion of the interior of said casing as a recess, said interior walls providing such recesses at diametrically opposite corners of the interior of said casing, knock-outs in at least three of the outside walls bounding each of said recesses for affording selectively usable access points for conductors introducing primary current for said transformer, a removable cover for each recess giving access thereto for making electrical connections for conductors therein; a pair of conductors, each insulated throughout its length and both extending between the interiors of said recesses and connected intermediate their ends to said primary leads respectively, so that electrical energy from an external source may be connected to said transformer via either of said recesses, said insulated conductors and said primary leads; a pair of insulated secondary terminals extending through one of said six walls and connected respectively to said secondary leads; the entire interior of the transformer box, except for said recesses, being filled with a potting compound; and intermediate mechanical attachment means adapted to be secured (a) to an external support for said transformer box and (b) selectively to different parts of said transformer box itself, so as selectively to position either the wall through which said insulated secondary terminals extend or another predetermined one of said six outside walls toward said external support for said transformer box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,627 Kleckner Oct. 18, 1932 974,681 Le Manquais Nov. 1, 1910 1,802,450 Steinmayer Apr. 28, 1931 2,232,962 Papp et al. Feb. 25, 1941 2,277,216 Epstein Mar. 24, 1942 2,740,905 Henderson Apr. 3, 1956 

